The Kentucky Derby is only three months away. Yes, only three months. That may sound like a lot of time to some, but for a horse hopeful of filling one of the 20 slots in the Derby field that means that he (or she) has about three races in which to earn enough graded stakes to make the limited field. The 20 horses with the most graded stakes will have the opportunity to run in the Kentucky Derby.

Beginning next week, we’ll look at one prep race a week and get to know the horses hoping to become the 138th Kentucky Derby winner. So, print the schedule below and get ready to talk Derby!

DATE

STAKES

DISTANCE

PURSE

RACE TRACK

01/21/12

LeComte Stakes (G3)

1 Mile 40 Yds.

$175,000

Fair Grounds

01/29/12

Holy Bull (G3)

1 Mile

$400,000

Gulfstream Park

02/04/12

Robert B. Lewis (G2)

1 1/16 Mile

$200,000

Santa Anita

02/04/12

Sam F. Davis (G3)

1 1/16 Mile

$200,000

Tampa Bay Downs

02/04/12

Withers (G3)

1 1/16 Mile

$200,000

Aqueduct

02/09/12

UAE 2,000 Guineas (G3)

1 Mile (Synthetic)

$250,000

Meydan Race Course

02/11/12

Hutcheson (G2)

7 Furlongs

$150,000

Gulfstream Park

02/18/12

El Camino Real Derby (G3)

1 1/8 Mile (Synthetic)

$200,000

Golden Gate

02/19/12

San Vicente (G2)

7 Furlongs

$150,000

Santa Anita

02/20/12

Southwest (G3)

1 Mile

$250,000

Oaklawn Park

02/25/12

Risen Star (G2)

1 1/16 Mile

$300,000

Fair Grounds

02/26/12

Fountain of Youth (G2)

1 1/16 Mile

$400,000

Gulfstream Park

03/03/12

Gotham (G3)

1 1/16 Mile

$400,000

Aqueduct

03/10/12

Tampa Bay Derby (G2)

1 1/16 Mile

$350,000

Tampa Bay Downs

03/10/12

San Felipe (G2)

1 1/16 Mile

$300,000

Santa Anita

03/10/12

Swale (G3)

7 Furlongs

$150,000

Gulfstream Park

03/11/12

Palm Beach (G3)

1 1/8 Mile (Turf)

$150,000

Gulfstream Park

03/17/12

Rebel (G2)

1 1/16 Mile

$500,000

Oaklawn Park

03/24/12

Vinery Spiral (G3)

1 1/8 Mile (Synthetic)

$500,000

Turfway Park

03/25/12

Sunland Derby (G3)

1 1/8 Mile

$800,000

Sunland Park

03/31/12

Florida Derby (G1)

1 1/8 Mile

$1,000,000

Gulfstream Park

03/31/12

UAE Derby (G2)

1 3/16 Mile (Synthetic)

$2,000,000

Meydan Race Course

04/01/12

Louisiana Derby (G2)

1 1/8 Mile

$1,000,000

Fair Grounds

04/06/12

Transylvania (G3)

1 1/16 Mile (Turf)

$100,000

Keeneland

04/07/12

Resorts World Casino New York City Wood Memorial (G1)

1 1/8 Mile

$1,000,000

Aqueduct

04/07/12

Santa Anita Derby (G1)

1 1/8 Mile

$1,000,000

Santa Anita

04/07/12

Illinois Derby (G3)

1 1/8 Mile

$500,000

Hawthorne

04/07/12

Bay Shore (G3)

7 Furlongs

$250,000

Aqueduct

04/14/12

Arkansas Derby (G1)

1 1/8 Mile

$1,000,000

Oaklawn Park

04/14/12

Toyota Blue Grass (G1)

1 1/8 Mile (Synthetic)

$750,000

Keeneland

04/21/12

Coolmore Lexington (G3)

1 1/16 Mile (Synthetic)

$200,000

Keeneland

04/21/12

Jerome (G2)

1 Mile

$200,000

Aqueduct

04/28/12

The Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial (G3)

1 Mile

$200,000

Churchill Downs

05/05/12

KENTUCKY DERBY Presented by YUM! Brands (G1)

1 ¼ Mile

$2,000,000

Churchill Downs

Photo: Courtesy Kentucky Derby

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I'm a lifetime Louisville resident with a passion for horse racing. When I'm not working as a paralegal or taking care of my family, I follow Thoroughbred racing and love to share the excitement and beauty of the sport with anyone willing to learn!